NYC Neighborhood Guide: Exploring the Lower East Side

The Lower East Side is one of the oldest, most interesting neighborhoods in New York City, no doubt about that.

With over 400 years of history in the books, the Lower East Side has become the quintessential neighborhood of the United States. Everything that represents this country lives in one small corner of Manhattan – but that’s only if you know where to look!

Going back through time paints a much different picture of the Lower East Side than what it looks like today. Over the past centuries, the Lower East Side has played many parts; from a Native American settlement to a Dutch colony, a pre-revolutionary farmland to an immigrant neighborhood, and the home of counterculture to an abandoned neighborhood, the Lower East Side has seen it all.

Your Guide to the Lower East Side

So let’s fast forward to here and now.

Today, the Lower East Side is a diverse, somewhat gentrified part of Manhattan that you shouldn’t miss during a trip to New York City!

Follow this guide – coming to you straight from a New Yorker – and you’ll be exploring the Lower East Side like a local in no time! 

Staying in the Lower East Side

Some of New York City’s most popular hotels are located in the Lower East Side. If you’re interested in staying in the area (and we fully support this choice, by the way), then here are the three best choices!

• The Ludlow Hotel
• Sixty LES
• Orchard Street Hotel

You can find other great deals on New York City hotels here!

Tasting the Lower East Side’s Food

Now, let’st talk about our favorite topic: food.

With such a diverse population and varied history, of course the Lower East Side’s foodie scene is going to be unreal.

Here are the places you must try while exploring the Lower East Side!

Katz’s Deli:

Katz is a New York City institution. Since 1888, this place has been making the absolute best pastrami sandwiches in the City. Pair your pastrami with some of Katz’s world-famous pickles and you’ll instantly become a New Yorker. Well, er, not really. But you’ll be on your way!

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Pig and Khao:

Former Top Chef contestant, Leah Cohen, brings a mix of Thai and Filipino food into the Lower East Side. Pig and Khao is the sure winner if you’re looking for spicy, fresh, and filling meals. And anything from Pig and Khao is better when you pair it with their self-serve, bottomless tap beers in the backyard!

Cafe Katja:

Cafe Katja is home to arguably the best Austrian cuisine in New York City, but definitely in the Lower East Side. This restaurant is everything you can imagine: great beer, delicious sausages, charcuterie, delectable cheeses, and of course, schnitzel! I recommend you order the smoked pork loin sandwich and pair it with whichever Hefeweizen is on tap!

Barrio Chino:

Exploring the Lower East Side is about understanding the cultures in the area and how they interact. Barrio Chino is yet another example of that. In Spanish, barrio chino translates to “Chinese neighborhood.” And since Latino and Asian people intermix daily in the Lower East Side, the name is quite apropos. But surprisingly, Barrio Chino’s food is straight-up Mexican, with some modern flair. At Barrio Chino, you’ll get the classics, elevated with the head chef’s new, innovative flavors. And by the way, the infused margaritas are a must!

Vanessa’s Dumpling House:

Vanessa’s Dumpling House is a little over 20 years old but is a staple in the neighborhood. Vanessa’s prides itself on high-quality dishes. But best of all, everything is extremely cheap. For those who don’t know, finding a place like this in New York City is like finding a unicorn. Too good to be true – but Vanessa’s Dumpling House is an exception. Fulfill your heart’s, and stomach’s, utmost desires with dumplings and other Chinese basics!

Lam Zhou Handmade Noodles:

The neighborhood’s giant Chinese population means that Chinese food will be premium. Lam Zhou Handmade Noodles is one of the best! Don’t be fooled by the hole-in-the-wall appearance; just let the food speak for itself. Noodles and soup dumplings will be all you need here, but that’s not to say that everything on the menu isn’t great. It is!

Exploring the Lower East Side’s Culture

Next up is a little bit of culture (outside of food) that you’ll encounter while exploring the Lower East Side. There are so many ethnicities, races, and cultures in the Lower East Side that it would take me forever to list them, but here are some of the most prominent: Hungarians, Poles, Jews, Italians, Germans, Irish, Romanians, Russians, Slovaks, Chinese, Indian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Japanese, Korean, and Pilipino… just to name a few.

With so many ethnicities in the Lower East Side, comes an incredible melting pot of cultures. Here are some of the Lower East Side’s best cultural sites!

Tenement Museum:

New York City was built by and for immigrants, so a visit to the Tenement Museum is only fitting. This museum peeks into the lives of around 7,000 immigrants who used to call the building home in the mid-19th century. Visit this Lower East Side museum to discover how immigrants made this city what it is today.

Art Galleries:

Exploring the Lower East Side means that you have to take advantage of at least one of the dozens of art galleries within the neighborhood’s boundaries. Some of the most popular genres of art are street art (of course!), modern art, and surrealist art. If there’s one thing you can’t afford to miss in the Lower East Side, it’s the neighborhood’s art scene.

Pop Culture:

Although you might not exactly get to know the Lower East Side in terms of pop culture, there are a few things you should check out! Chef, lawyer, blogger, and food personality, Eddie Huang, is the unofficial representative of the Lower East Side; if you don’t know who he is, search him online to capture some of his essence. A few films that have been set here include: When Harry Met Sally, Once Upon a Time in America, I Am Legend, Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist, and P.S. I Love You. Before, you explore the Lower East Side, check out some of these pop culture items!

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Music:

The Lower East Side is one of the neighborhoods that makes or breaks young artists, as well as one that hosts some of the biggest names on earth. Plenty of Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Rihanna music videos have been set here, but the real music scene is what you’ll find in the underground!

Exploring the Lower East Side’s Shops

There’s plenty of great shopping to do in the Lower East Side, too, so let’s move on to that!

The Lower East Side is one of the trendiest neighborhoods in all of New York City, and in the United States, for that matter. You have all kinds of stores in the Lower East Side, from general stores, to stationery and book stores, to trendy clothing and accessories shops. Guaranteed, what you find in the Lower East Side will be the best the City has to offer.

Bluestockings:

Bluestockings is a bookshop like none you’ve ever encountered. This place is run through volunteers in the community, it’s a center for activism, and a self-proclaimed “radical bookstore.” It’s a neighborhood favorite, so stop in while you’re exploring the Lower East Side.

The Reed Space:

The Reed Space is the streetwear shop in the neighborhood. The Reed Space’s owner is also the creator of the popular streetwear brand Staple, so of course, his store is going to be just as awesome. Since it’s opening, The Reed Space has been one of the most popular stores in all of New York City, when it comes to streetwear. But on top of that, it has deep ties with pop culture and the great city of New York.

Edith Machinist:

Edith Machinist prides itself on having the best selection of vintage designer accessories and footwear anywhere in the city. They have every famous designer you can think of and some of the most exclusive pieces by those designers. For any and every fashion lover, Edith Machinist is a must-visit!

Housing Works Bookstore Café:

People come for the lure of a cozy café and some great reads, but the energy and events held at the Housing Works Bookstore Café are what keep people coming back! There is a great atmosphere here and the workers are also volunteers. Overall, visiting the Housing Works Bookstore Café is a relaxing experience and it’s one of my favorite spots in the Lower East Side. On top of everything, all the proceeds of the store go to Housing Works, which “provides housing, medical, prevention, support services for those living in New York.”

Frank’s Bikeshop:

To really get the full essence of exploring the Lower East Side, you have to ride a bike. Sure, you have Citibike Stations all around Manhattan, but instead, head over to Frank’s Bikeshop and keep the business in the neighborhood. Frank has a wide selection of bikes to get around and will rent them out for good prices!

Extra Butter:

Simply put, Extra Butter is the best store for sneakers in the Lower East Side. Extra Butter offers an experience like no other, as they display their roots to the film industry and the past 30 years of New York’s pop culture. Not only is the presentation great, but their collection of sneakers is unrivaled in the area. You’re bound to find some cool kicks that’ll turn heads while you’re exploring the Lower East Side!

Your Guide to Exploring the Lower East Side

Now that you have your guide to exploring the Lower East Side, it’s time to make this neighborhood a priority. And if you decide to make this neighborhood your home base of the trip, you won’t regret it!

Whether you’re a first-time visitor to New York City, come here often, or even if you live in New York City, there’s always something new to discover in the Lower East Side!

Over to you! Tell us all about your favorite experiences from exploring the Lower East Side! Have you been before? What would you add to this guide? Let us know us know if you feel the same way about the Lower East Side as we do!

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